While the majority of ICF manufacturers use molded EPS or expanded polystyrene foam, four others are also used. The type of foam used in insulated concrete forms varies from project to project. Today, ICF construction is fairly competitive and can be very affordable, especially when one considers energy savings over time. However, the cost of lumber and skilled labor rose precipitously in the years following Gregori’s patent application. He initially believed that ICF construction would be too expensive for home builders. Interestingly, ICF patent-holder Werner Gregori did not foresee the use of insulated concrete forms in residential construction. Common configurations of ICF walls and foundations are flat wall, waffle-grid and screen grid. These forms are commonly used in foundations and exterior walls of both residential and commercial buildings. The hollows within ICFs are filled with concrete once the forms have been laid. What Are ICFs (Insulated Concrete Forms)?įor those unfamiliar with insulated concrete forms, ICFs are lightweight insulation forms that are hollow inside. To learn about all of this and more, follow below. We will also discuss the costs of building an ICF in 2021 and what the building process is like for homeowners. Throughout this post, we will outline the pros and cons of building an ICF home in California. In fact, the US Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) identifies ICF construction as one of the best building methods for energy-efficient homes and those in disaster-prone regions. California homeowners are especially well-served by ICF construction, as these forms are exceptionally strong and contribute to a tight thermal envelope. As homeowner priorities changed - with disaster resilience and energy efficiency topping their lists - ICFs became more mainstream. Though ICFs were initially slow to permeate the US housing market, they are fairly popular in residential construction today. After concrete is poured into the foam forms, the mold serves as insulation for the finished building. Insulated concrete forms, on the other hand, are a complete structure in and of themselves. When used in construction, concrete is usually poured into a mold, which is later removed once the concrete has hardened or cured. Invented in the 1940s and patented by Werner Gregori in 1967, ICFs are better known as “insulated concrete forms.” First termed “foam forms” by Gregori in the late twentieth century, insulated concrete forms differ significantly from traditional concrete building. In our recent post “ Climate Change Resilient Building Materials for California Homes,” we identified ICF as a durable, energy-efficient and disaster-resilient material ideal for homes in the Golden State.
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